Tonya Surman, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) in Toronto, is a dynamo. Dedicated to fostering innovation and positive social and environmental change through collaboration, Tonya has been practicing what she preaches for over 20 years. Her current venture, CSI, is an innovative collaboration space whose mission is to catalyze, connect and support new ideas that make positive change in the world1. The mission’s latest manifestation is in the form of a unique social capital-raising tool, utilized towards the purchase of the organization’s second location – CSI Annex.
A 36,000 square foot building located near Bathurst and Bloor, CSI Annex will be the future home of nearly 300 organizations focused on creating a better world. Like its predecessor, CSI at 215 Spadina, CSI Annex is not only a shared workspace, but also an innovation hub, incubating social and environmental organizations and helping increase their capacity to affect positive change. But there is one key difference between the organization’s two locations. And that is in the creative deal structure that has allowed CSI to complete the purchase of its new building.
With a dedicated working Board and one staff member, the not-for-profit 
There is certainly a buzz in government circles across the country about the potential for social finance. This week, the Social Innovation Generation (SiG) at MaRS team was invited to present at an engaging Lunch and Learn session with representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH). The session was led by Sumera Nabi, Senior Policy Advisor in the Housing Policy Branch at the Ministry, who presented an insightful and in-depth overview of social finance. The noon hour discussion featured excellent questions and valuable perspectives from committed and experienced public servants working in affordable housing.
Are you a highly motivated individual that is interested in working on the cutting edge of social finance with eminent institutions including MaRS, the TMX Group Inc., the Government of Ontario, Social Innovation Generation (SiG), and global leaders in social finance?
